Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

The enemy's "real objective" is not to destroy the city.

*

"Hurry! We must rescue all the hostages while the commander and the others are fighting the enemy!"

Raul loudly urged his fellow adventurers on.

Accompanied by the sound of hurried footsteps, the group quickly moved through the passage filled with green flesh.

This is still the eleventh level of the man-made maze.

Raul and his team are rescuing "hostages". Whenever they find members of the Demeter Familia, they send people from the reserve army to take the hostages out, so they only have a dozen or so team members left.

(If we find more hostages, we'll have to leave the man-made maze temporarily...!)

The next second Raul thought this—

"what?"

Suddenly, a strange sound was heard.

"Mr. Raul..."

"This is……"

“…………”

Based on the reactions of the group members, Raul immediately realized that he had not misheard.

He fell silent for a moment, turning his gaze to the map in his hand.

This is a copy of the "design plan for an artificial maze." He referred to this map as he ran, intently searching for possible hidden chambers, but—

He turned his head to look behind him.

The mapmaker girl, who was also holding a copy of the map, seemed to sense Raul's "worry" and quickly shook her head in denial, meaning that "there is no huge hidden space nearby."

Even though the girl shared the same view, a bead of cold sweat still trickled down Raul's neck.

Raul did not possess a better "intuition" than Finn.

However, a premonition that was so tense that he was on the verge of collapse made him, as a mortal, feel extremely uneasy, which was hard to describe in words.

"…………I'll go take a look."

Raul couldn't help but think it was a miracle that his tongue wasn't tied.

He turned toward the source of the "sound".

We had no choice but to do it.

Faced with Raul's short command, the other members, too nervous to respond, all obediently complied.

This is a strange, deep bass sound.

It was a continuous sound that seemed to emanate from the entire labyrinth.

The sound became clearer and clearer.

The sound grew louder and louder.

The group continued along the narrow path, turning several corners, gradually approaching the source of the sound. The volume grew louder and louder until they could clearly hear the terrifying "sound" that seemed to come from the depths of the underworld.

By this point, the sound could be heard clearly without even straining to hear it. The team members still held their breath, trying to suppress the reflexive trembling of their lips and limbs.

Raul, who was leading the way, was so nervous that his face turned pale, but he still silently continued to walk forward.

Then──

"────────"

He saw it.

"[Valges]!"

Baje's "poisonous fist" struck the fairy's tentacles.

The effect of concentrating the added magic on the fist was quite astonishing. The green flesh immediately began to rot, and the "fairy clone," corroded by the purplish-black "venom," couldn't help but scream and sever its tentacles.

Tione and Argana followed closely behind, attacking the fairy's true form.

Two recurve blades severed the fairy's arm, and a giant, serpentine fist damaged the fairy's body. Tiona then swung her large twin blades to deliver a finishing blow.

"Just a little bit more!"

"But we still can't destroy the 'magic stone'!"

"But it's doomed! Hahahaha! Watch me kill it!"

Although the three were forced to spread out by the wildly swinging tentacles, Tiona and Tione, upon landing, licked their lips proudly at their victory, with Algana even more ruthlessly boasting.

As she said, the "fairy spirit clone" had already been severely damaged.

Many tentacles were either severed by Bajie's team or became prey for the "venomous poison," causing their numbers to drastically decrease. It's likely that the fairy's "magic power" is about to run out, and its invincible "self-regeneration" speed has clearly slowed down considerably.

The "fairy clone" that was continuously repairing its arm let out a mournful cry.

It's almost equivalent to being unable to continue singing.

"The battle situation has completely reversed. This is the strength of the Fighting Nation... no, it's the strength of Miss Tiona and her group of female warriors."

Even the therapist, Amid, could clearly see the current situation.

More than fifty Amazons held the front line, supported by mages from the Loki Familia and Ganesha Familia, and importantly, four Level 6 adventurers helped to disrupt and forcefully attack the enemy. With Finn's command, even a powerful "Fairy Clone" would eventually be overrun.

Just a little more effort was all it took—the instant Amid was convinced that victory was within her grasp.

"what?"

The sight before them prompted Tiona and Tione to utter the same sound.

"Hey, Grace... what's that?"

"How could I possibly know!"

This is the Third Division.

Chun asked the question in astonishment, and Grace couldn't help but curse angrily.

Not only Tiona's Fourth Division, but also adventurers from other places witnessed the scene.

"Is it the original repair method?"

"No, the situation is not quite the same."

"It's obvious that the body has gotten bigger."

"That's... a mutation."

The four Jariba brothers, who stole the "Fairy Flag" from the Hephaestus Familia, all revealed sharp eyes from beneath their helmets.

"...!"

After the "fairy spirit" emitted a strange sound, its appearance began to change.

It became uglier and more evil.

Wo-mei, who was also at the scene, was speechless for the time being, but he did feel the "fear".

"Hey... my fuel is almost gone."

Welf, who had repeatedly used "anti-magic magic" and "magic sword" in the second unit and contributed greatly to the battle, narrowed his eyes in pain.

The fairy spirit emitted a large amount of steam, which looked significantly different from its previous "self-regeneration".

It emits extremely hot steam, enough to raise the temperature of the entire cave, making it resemble a volcano.

"Judging from how it blocked the magic... it can be seen that it has strong magic resistance. It is no longer an ordinary piece of meat, but a shell containing magic power."

“…………”

Hedin swiftly unleashed a lightning bolt uttered in a very short chant, and after observing "that's" reaction, he clicked his tongue and uttered his conclusion. Hegny, wielding the black sword, remained silent, gazing up at "that."

The female warrior Ilta and her Ganesha Familia were frozen in fear, while Riveria couldn't help but curse:

"This damned monster disguised as a fairy... We had already cornered it, yet it still had this kind of 'backup plan' up its sleeve. What kind of joke is this?!"

This sentence perfectly encapsulates the feelings of the ashen-faced adventurers.

"Miss An, Miss Angie...!"

"...!!"

Annaquite of the Fifth Division couldn't help but grit her teeth.

The "celestial essence clones" undergo a "mutation" accompanied by steam, and their bodies gradually turn black.

The blackened skin cracked like fissures in the earth, emanating a red glow. The red lines that spread across its entire body were as if the immortal essence itself had been "contaminated."

It kept growing bigger and darker, gradually becoming dominated by a pure force.

"This is……"

Even Austria was stunned and speechless.

The "Fairy Essence Pollution Body," dyed pure black, emitted a chilling howl before the adventurers.

"Ahhh...? Ahh ...

Faced with the "existence" before him, Raul struggled to maintain his rationality.

This is the large cavern located on the eleventh floor.

To be precise, this is not a large cave.

The walls were completely destroyed, and the space consisted of several interconnected passageways and chambers.

The colossal object, which requires ample space to contain, is located in this "new, enormous space" that should not be recorded on any map.

"This is... a 'dragon'!?"

As Lakta exclaimed, the enormous creature did indeed resemble a "dragon".

It has three pairs of wings totaling six, twisted claws that seem to be built from natural barriers, an enormous body covered with scales that need no further description, and a dragon head that resembles a demon.

Overall, it is similar to other "fairy spirit clones" and is integrated with the maze that has been transformed into an "altar".

Thump, thump... A strange red light emanated from one side, and the pulsating green flesh around it resembled the unusual drumming of a dragon.

The skin was completely dyed pure black.

It was covered with alarming red lines that looked like blood vessels.

Below the giant dragon head, roughly at its chest, lies the true form of a "celestial spirit clone".

The upper body, with its outstretched arms, forms a cross-like pattern, merging with the "magic stone." The fairy's face is obscured. This is because the area above the nose has been eroded by the dragon's body, leaving half of her face missing.

That appearance could no longer be considered "celestial essence" parasitizing the dragon's body, but rather "celestial essence" being absorbed into the dragon's body.

Its imposing appearance was so hideous that one couldn't help but think that even the legendary "Black Dragon" that slumbered at the ends of the world wouldn't look so terrifying.

"Wrong...we've completely misunderstood!! Commander! The six rings are not the 'main force'!"

Anyone who sees its imposing presence will immediately understand that this is "Eni's" "trump card".

Even from a distance, it's clear that it's absorbing a large amount of magic power from the magic circle on the ceiling.

Raul, his face drained of color, screamed uncontrollably:

"The enemy's 'main force' is 'bombs'!!"

The creature nestled on the dragon's chest emitted soft, breathy moans that made hearts race, undulating as it absorbed the power of the entire labyrinth. The dragon's heart pounded with a deafening roar, its beat growing increasingly violent as if it were about to reach its limit.

The "Fairy Spirit" showed no signs of preparing to attack Raul and the others.

wrong.

Just as a dragon wouldn't even notice an ant, adventurers are merely dispensable before the impending "utter destruction."

"If this continues—!?"

The adventurers will be wiped out.

*

"The seventh one!?"

Loki forced out an excited shout from his throat.